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MacDonald Named Virginia Diving Coach
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CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – Virginia head swimming coach Mark Bernardino announced that Rich MacDonald has been named diving coach at UVa. MacDonald joins the Cavalier program after serving in a similar capacity at East Carolina for nine seasons.
“Rich made himself into a very good college diver through his hard work, perseverance, dedication and tenacity,” Bernardino said. “He has used those same characteristics to become a great college coach. It is my hope that he can utilize those traits with the divers here at UVa and take them to the next level.”
“I am very excited to be a part of such a prestigious university, athletics department and program,” MacDonald said. “This is a great opportunity for me. Coach Bernardino is one of the best coaches in the country and I look forward to working with him and the rest of the swimming and diving family.”
MacDonald, the first full-time diving coach at East Carolina, has guided at least one ECU diver to the NCAA Zone Regional in eight of his nine years, including the first finalists on both the 1-meter and 3-meter boards in school history. MacDonald guided multiple Conference USA Freshman Divers of the Year and multiple conference finalists.
Prior to his stint with the Pirates, MacDonald coached at his alma mater, Rhode Island, from 1997-2000, where he mentored two Atlantic-10 conference champions and three NCAA Zone qualifiers.
MacDonald also has a wealth of club coaching experience. While in Greenville, N.C., he started the age group team called the Emerald City Dive Club. With that squad, MacDonald coached four North Carolina state finalists and one North Carolina state champion. He also served as a volunteer assistant with L’Air Bergere diving team in Philadelphia for three summers.
A native of Fort Washington, Pa., MacDonald was a member of the 1993 state championship diving team at Upper Dublin High School. He went on to coach the Fort Washington swimming and diving team for six years.
MacDonald earned his bachelor’s degree in exercise science and education from Rhode Island in 1997. He is serving as a member of the NCAA Swimming and Diving Rules Committee through 2010.